Armando Benitez #49

Armando Benitez ... signed with Orioles at age of 17 ... his older brother, Francisco, pitched in Toronto system ... his cousin, Edgar Rodriguez, pitched in Mets organization in 2003 ... runs 1,000-acre ranch in Quisqueya, Dominican Republic.

2007

Went 2-5 with 5.73 in 36 games with Marlins, going 0x5 in save opportunities ... acquired by Marlins from Giants on May 31 in exchange for RHP Randy Messenger ... went 0-3 with nine saves and 4.67 ERA in 19 games with Giants ... was combined 2-8 with nine saves and 5.36 ERA in 55 games between Marlins and Giants ... Made first appearance with Marlins June 1 at Milwaukee, tossing scoreless eighth inning ... picked up wins in back-to-back outings ... earned first win of year June 19 at Chicago-AL, throwing perfect eighth inning in tied game before Marlins scored two runs in ninth en route to win ... Earned second win in next outing, June 22 vs. Minnesota ... suffered blown save but earned win, allowing two runs (unearned) in eighth inning... Had nine saves, all with Giants ... did not record save after May 22 vs. Houston ... finished season with 289 career saves, which is eighth among active pitchers, behind Trevor Hoffman (524), Mariano Rivera (443), Billy Wagner (358), Roberto Hernandez (326), Troy Percival (324), Jose Mesa (321), Todd Jones (301).

2006

Endured up-and-down year due to health and effectiveness, but still posted team-high 17 saves...opened year on 15-day Disabled List with left knee bursitis, and was shut down at various times with soreness in both elbow and knees...finally saw season come to close when he was placed on 60-day DL Sept. 14 with right knee inflammation...made last appearance 12 days before that, pitching Sept. 2 at Chicago...was also hurt by lack of work, as he had just 25 official save opportunities in 122 team games from time he was activated from DL April 20 through final appearance...logged 31-scoreless efforts in his 41 outings...posted career-high 4-game winning streak April 29-June 8...was 4-1 with 10 saves (in 14 chances) and 1.99 ERA (5er, 22.2ip) prior to All-Star Break...struggled in 2nd half, going 0-1 with 7 saves (in 11 chances) and 5.74 ERA (10er, 15.2ip).

2005

Showed tremendous grit and determination, coming back from potential season-ending hamstring injury in April to tie for 2nd in NL with 15 saves (in 17 chances) following activation from DL Aug. 15...held opposition to just .192 avg. (14-for-73) and averaged 8.3 strikeouts per 9.0 innings (19so) during stretch, while posting 3.92 ERA (9er, 20.2ip) over 22 appearances...tied for 4th in NL Rolaids Relief Man standings for Sept., logging 26 points by going 1-1 with 10 saves (in 12 chances)...signed as free agent over winter to be SF's closer, but appeared in just 8 games with Giants in April before tearing 2 hamstring tendons in right leg completely off pelvis...suffered injury while covering 1st base on groundout that ended April 26 victory over San Diego...underwent 2-hour surgery May 3 to re-attach to hamstring tendons, procedure performed by team orthopedist Ken Akizuki and 49ers physician Michael Dillingham...made Giants debut in impressive fashion, earning save in SF's 4-2, Opening Day victory over LA April 5...reached 250-save plateau Aug. 27 vs. Mets, closing out SF's 2-1 victory...passed Dave Righetti for 23rd on all-time list with 253rd career save Aug. 31 vs. Colorado...logged 257th rescue, leapfrogging Todd Worrell for 22nd, with perfect 9th to preserve Giants' 4-3, Sept. 12 victory over San Diego.

2004

Set Marlins' single-season saves mark in only campaign with Florida, posting career-best 47 saves (51 opportunities) over 64 outings...surpassed his previous career mark of 43 (2001 with Mets) and Florida's franchise mark of 45, set by Bryan Harvey in 1993 and Antonio Alfonseca in 2000...led all Major League relievers in ERA (1.29) and in opp. batting avg. (.152)...became 2nd Marlin to lead or co-lead NL in saves (Alfonseca in 2000)...ranked 5th in majors with 92.2% successful saves rate, trailing only Eric Gagne (95.7%), Shingo Takatsu (95.0%), Joe Nathan (93.6%) and Mariano Rivera (93.0%)...was named to NL All-Star Team for 2nd straight season, after entering Break with 30 saves (3rd in majors behind Danny Graves' 33 and Mariano Rivera's 32)...became only 2nd Marlins reliever named to All-Star Game, joining Harvey (1993)...was 3rd 40-plus saves season in Marlins history and 3rd of his career (2000 and 2001 with Mets)...posted 10 saves in April and May to match Florida's record for saves in month, 1st accomplished by Robb Nen in June of 1997...began Marlins career by converting each of 1st 10 saves over his 1st 12 games (0.71 ERA) and 24 of his 1st 25 opportunities in his 1st 31 outings (0.54 ERA)...had his ERA at season-best 0.29 after his June 4 save vs. Mets...that game marked career-best 12th straight game that he did not allow hit, during which time batters went 0-for-40 against him, 2nd-longest streak by reliever since 1990 (NYY's Rivera 0-for- 46 in 1996), according to Elias Sports Bureau...set Florida's relief record for consecutive innings pitched without giving up earned run with career-best 30.0 frames...streak ran from April 8-June 5, when Mets' Mike Piazza led off 9th with home run...was his 1st earned run allowed since Opening Day, when MON's Jose Vidro homered...registered 1st save as Marlin on Opening Day, April 6 vs. Montreal.

2003

Earned All-Star honors for 1st time in combined for 4-4 record with 2.96 ERA and 21 saves (29 opportunities) in 69 games with New York Mets, New York Yankees and Seattle Mariners...limited opponents to .218 avg...however, suffered career-high 8 blown saves, which tied for 3rd-most in majors...made 45 appearances for Mets, going 3-3 with 3.10 ERA and 21 saves...ranked 6th in NL in saves at All-Star Break...following All-Star Game, posted 2.66 ERA with Yankees and Seattle...was traded to Yankees July 16 in exchange for RHPs Jason Anderson, Anderson Garcia and Ryan Bicondoa... appeared in 9 games for Bronx Bombers and posted 1-1 ledger with 1.93 ERA...collected his Yankee win July 31 at Anaheim with 1.2-scoreless innings...was sent to Mariners along with cash Aug. 6 in exchange for RHP Jeff Nelson and was 0-0 with 3.14 ERA with Seattle.

2002

Went 1-0 with 2.27 ERA and 33 saves (in 37 opportunities) over 62 games with Mets...became 1st Mets reliever in team history to record 3 consecutive seasons of 30 or more saves...moved into 2nd place on Mets all-time saves list with his 108th rescue April 11 at Chicago...earned his 150th career save in 2-1 Mets victory over Milwaukee April 27...fashioned 1.86 ERA (10er, 48.1ip) over his final 44 appearances.

2001

Won NL Rolaids Relief Award with 130 points...was his 1st career Rolaids Relief Award and became 2nd Met to win title (John Franco in 1990)...finished 2nd in majors (behind NYY's Mariano Rivera's 135) in Rolaids Relief points...tied for 2nd in NL with 43 saves, with SD's Trevor Hoffman and LA's Jeff Shaw, behind SF's Robb Nen (45)...posted career high in wins (6), as he logged 3.77 ERA in 73 games...converted 24 consecutive saves April 3-July 25 for Mets' single-season record.

2000

Helped Mets to NL pennant and 1st World Series appearance since 1986...posted 1st 40-plus save season in Mets history, as he went 4-4 with 41 saves (46 opportunities) and 2.61 ERA in 76 appearances...allowed 39 hits and 38 walks with 106 strikeouts in 76.0 innings...earned his 41st save of season and 100th of his Major League career Sept. 30 vs. Montreal...led majors with 68 games finished and was tied for 5th in NL with 76 appearances...held RHH to .160 avg. and LHH to .134 mark... was 1 of 5 pitchers to hold both RHH and LHH to avg. under .200, joining Robb Nen, Kazuhiro Sasaki, Pedro Martinez and Barry Zito...collected saves in both ends of doubleheader Aug. 15 vs. Colorado, when he combined to allow 1 run on 3 hits with 5 strikeouts in 2.0 innings...was winning pitcher in NLDS Game 2 at San Francisco...earned save in NLCS Game 2 vs. St. Louis...also saved Mets' Game 3 win in World Series vs. Yankees.

1999

Made career-high 77 appearances in 1st season with Mets, going 4-3 with 22 saves (28 opportunities) and 1.85 ERA...ranked 2nd in NL for ERA among relievers, behind Houston's Billy Wagner (1.57)...also finished 5th in NL for appearances...posted career-best 128 strikeouts over career-high 78.0 innings...set Major League record by averaging 14.77 strikeouts per 9.0 innings, among pitchers who saw action in 75-or-more games...collected 1st NL save May 8 at Arizona...garnered 1st NL win in 8-7, 10-inning victory at Tampa Bay July 15...made 7 appearances in post season, including 2 in NLDS vs. Arizona and 5 in NLCS vs. Atlanta...combined to post 1.00 ERA (1er, 9.0ip), while allowing 5 hits and striking out 11...had torn cartilage removed from his right knee Dec. 15 by Dr. Leighann Curl at University of Maryland Kernan Medical Center.

1998

Converted 22 of 26 saves with 5-6 record and 3.82 ERA over 71 games during final season with Baltimore...held opponents to .199 avg., 5th-best mark in AL...was suspended for 8 games for his role in bench-clearing brawl May 19 at Yankee Stadium... served his suspension May 20- 28.

1997

Logged 1st full season in big leagues and went 4-5 with 9 saves (10 chances) and 2.45 ERA in 71 appearances for Orioles...finished 8th among AL relievers for ERA... ranked 6th in junior circuit with 20 holds... posted 1.58 ERA over his final 45 games, allowing 10 runs (8 earned) in 45.2 innings...tossed 6.0 innings over 7 post season appearances, 3 in ALDS vs. Seattle and 4 in ALCS vs. Cleveland... allowed 3 runs on 6 hits, with 5 walks and 6 strikeouts.

1996

Had season cut short due to injury, but still converted 4 of 5 save opportunities and went 1-0 with 3.77 ERA in 18 outings for Orioles...was on DL April 20-Aug.26 with strained right elbow...after 1-game rehab assignment May 18 at double-A Bowie, was examined by Dr. James Andrews...had strained ulnar collateral ligament and was transferred to 60-day DL...was activated from DL Aug. 26 and pitched in 13 games following his return...went 2-0 with 2.25 ERA (1er, 4.0ip) in 3 relief appearances during ALDS vs. Cleveland...made his 1st post season appearance Oct. 2 vs. Tribe and collected win...posted 7.71 ERA in 3 ALCS games vs. Yankees...notched 1st career post season save in Game 2 at New York with 0.2-scoreless innings...following season, pitched for Estrellas in Dominican Winter League.

1995

Made Baltimore staff out of Spring Training and was with Orioles on 3 different occasions...went 1-5 with 2 saves and 5.66 ERA in 44 ML games...appeared in AL-high 19 games through June 7 when he was optioned to triple-A Rochester...earned 1st ML save May 17 vs. Detroit, tossing 1.0-shutout inning...earned 1st Major League victory July 2 at Toronto, when he fanned all 3 batters in 1.0 inning...allowed five earned runs in his last 4.0 innings (July 4-14), before being optioned back to Rochester July 16...was recalled for 3rd time Aug. 4 and remained with Baltimore for rest of season...following season, pitched for Estrellas in Dominican Winter League.

1994

Spent majority of year with double-A Bowie before making Major League deubt July 28 in 1st game of doubleheader vs. Cleveland...relieved Mike Mussina with 2 on and 2 out and fanned 1st batter he faced, Albert Belle...made 3 appearances with Orioles, allowing run on 8 hits in 10.0 innings (0.90 ERA)...was optioned back to Bowie Aug. 11, just prior to MLB players strike, so he would not be frozen on roster and would be able to continue to pitch.

1993

Split season between Baltimore's single-A affiliates in Albany and Frederick, combining for 8-1 ledger with 18 saves and 1.34 ERA with 112 strikeouts in 67.0 innings... led all minor leaguers in strikeouts per 9.0 innings (15.04)... topped all Orioles prospects in ERA and was 2nd in saves...was co-winner of Palmer Prize award with Garrett Stephenson, presented annually to organization's top pitcher of year.

1992

Made 25 appearances for single-A Bluefield and posted 1-2 record with 4.31 ERA.

1991

Pitched in 14 games (3 starts) for rookie-level Gulf Coast League Orioles... posted 3-2 record with 2.72 ERA in 36.1 innings.

1990

Joined Orioles' Dominican Summer League entry after signing as non-drafted free agent April 1